Obama Administration seeks to halt Texas execution of Mexican national, Humberto Leal Garcia

From "NYDailyNews.com, Saturday, July 2nd 2011, 11:43 AM

BY Aliyah Shahid, DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

Texas Dept. of Criminal Justice

This 1995 booking photoe shows Humberto Leal Garcia. The UN human rights office called July 1, 2011 on the US state of Texas to spare the life of a Mexican death row inmate convicted of rape and murder, as there were questions about whether he had a fair trial.  

The Obama Administration is taking the unusual step of trying to halt the execution of a Mexican citizen who has been sentenced to die for the brutal kidnapping, rape and murder of a 16-year-old girl more than 16 years ago.

U.S. authorities want to delay Humberto Leal Garcia's execution --scheduled for Thursday -- for up to six months to give Congress time to consider legislation that would directly affect his case.

The federal government rarely intervenes in state death penalty cases.

Leal, a 38-year-old from Monterrey, Mexico, wasn't told he could contact the Mexican consulate after his arrest-something his lawyer's argue is mandatory under international law.

The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay has also appealed to Texas Gov. Rick Perry to call off the lethal injection.  CLICK HERE to read more.